Gary Sinise chosen as grand marshal of the 2018 Rose Parade

The Tournament of Roses has named actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise as the 2018 Grand Marshal at the Tournament House in Pasadena, Calif. October 30, 2017. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Actor Gary Sinise remembered when, during his early days in Chicago, he’d watch the floats of the Rose Parade travel down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day in sunny weather.

“January 1st in Chicago, if you can imagine is very, very cold,” Sinise said Monday at the Tournament of Roses event announcing him as the grand marshal of the 129th Rose Parade. “I was very jealous of all the folks that live here in California that were at the parade. So when we moved here one of the first things we wanted to do was to come and be a part of the Rose Parade.”

Tournament of Roses President Lance Tibbet revealed the 62-year-old actor as the 2018 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal during a ceremony at the Tournament House in Pasadena.

Tibbet said Sinise is the embodiment of this year’s parade theme, “Making A Difference.”

“Gary’s humanitarian work with our defenders, veterans, first responders and their families over the years, embodies our theme to the fullest.” he said.

Sinise will ride in the Parade and throw the coin for the toss-up at the 104th Rose Bowl Game, both to be held on Jan. 1, 2018.

Sinise, his wife and their children enjoyed their first Rose Parade in person in 1995. He said he’s looking forward to enjoying it once again with his family, including his first months-old grandchild.

For decades, Sinise has used his visibility as an actor to bring attention to veterans and current military members. He said he plans to use the grand marshal role to help him promote those causes.

“I feel blessed that I’ve been able to take this success that I’ve had in the movie and television business, and to do something positive with it to make a difference in the lives of our veterans, our active duty service members, our Gold Star families,” said Sinise. “So if by shining a little spotlight on me, on January 1, can shine a spotlight on them to help me make a difference in their lives, I am very grateful to do that.”

Sinise’s support of veterans started in the early 1980s with Vets Night, a program with free dinner and performances for veterans at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, the theatre company he co-founded in 1974.

After his iconic performance as Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” Sinise said he stepped up his work with veterans. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, his humanitarian work expanded to all U.S. service members and first responders.

In 2004, Sinise formed the Lt. Dan Band to entertain troops serving all over the world. The group, with Sinise as a bass player, performs about 30 shows a year. In 2011, he founded the Gary Sinise Foundation with the mission of honoring veterans as well as defenders, first responders, their families and others in need.